WEBVTT AKEUP AT THE WHITE HOUSETONIGHT ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS.THAT BEGINS HERE ON WXII AT6:30.KENNY: IT IS OPENING NIGHT FORTHE NATIONAL BLACK THEATREFESTIVAL IN WINSTON-SALEM.NICOLE: A STAR-STUDDED GALA ISUNDERWAY AT THE NEWLY RENOVATEDBENTON CONVENTION CENTER.OUR MARGARET JOHNSON JOINS USLIVE TO TELL US SOME OF THE BIGNAMES THAT ARE ALREADY IN TOWN.MARGO?MARGARET: GOOD EVENING TO YOU.THERE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG NAMESHERE TONIGHT, AND YOU CAN SEETHE FANS ARE INSIDE THE BENTONCONVENTION CENTER, HOPING TO GETA LOOK AT SOME OF THEM.THIS IS A BLACK-TIE GALA.RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEEALL OF THE FANS THAT ARESTANDING OUT HERE, SOME OF THESTARS HAVE BEEN GETTING OUT OFLIMOUSINES, DRESSED TO THENINES.THE DINNER INSIDE THE CONVENTIONCENTER IS $265 PER PERSON WITH ASHOW AFTER DINNEYOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE FANS WHOHAVE GATHERED HERE TO DO SOME OFTHAT STARGAZING AND GRABPICTURES OF THEIR FAVORITES.SOME OF THE ONES WE HAVE SEENALREADY TODAY INCLUDEPRODUCER-DIRECTOR TED LANGE FROM"THE LOVE BOAT."FORMER SOAP STAR DEBBIE MORGAN-- YOU'LL REMEMBER HER AS ANGIEON "ALL MY CHILDREN," PART OFTHE ANGIE-JESSIE COUPLE.WE ALSO CAUGHT UP WITH LOUISGOSSET JR. EARLIER TODAY.HE IS BEST KNOWN AS GUNNERYSERGEANT FOLEY IN THE 1980'S HIT"AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN," HEIS RECEIVING A LIFETIMEACHIEVEMENT AWARD TONIGHT.EVEN MORE SPECIAL, HISGREAT-GRANDMOTHER GREW UP INTHIS AREA.>> -- RETURNING BACK HOME.I'VE BEEN ALL THE FANCY PLACES,AND THIS IS JUST AS FANCY.I STARTED IN 1954, AND ALL THISTHEATER AND ALL THESE PEOPLE IREMEMBER GROWING UP WITH ARESITTING IN THE SAME PLACE.THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL DIVINEINTERVENTION.IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THEENORMOUS ARTISTIC EXPLOSION, ANDI'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TOWITNESS IT, TO GET AN AWARDNAMED AFTER ALL THE PEOPLE WHOHELPED ME.THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.IT'S VERY EXCITING TO LIVE THISLONG AND STILL CONTRIBUTE.I'M VERY GRATEFUMARGARET: THERE ARE DOZENS OFSHOWS THAT OUR PLAN HERE ALLWEEK LONG.SOME HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT, BUTTHERE ARE STILL A LOT OF TICKETSTO A LOT OF OTHER SHOWS.YOU CAN SEE MORE PEOPLE AREGOING INSIDE THE BENTONCONVENTION CENTER IN THE MAINHALL FOR THE GALA.WE WILL KEEP WATCH AND LET YOUKNOW WHO WELL SHOWS UP.